Don’t believe Alex Lyon when he says his brain fell asleep during that three-minute stretch on Thursday when the Canadiens scored three goals on the Flyers to regain control. Lyon graduated from Yale in political science and did his thesis on global nuclear war. This guy’s brain doesn’t fall asleep.

This excuse was just his way of covering up his teammates. Two of the goals came with Montreal having too much room to operate, and the third was out of a scrum on a power play.

After a loss, most NHL players can focus on the next game. We will have them next time. I have to win more battles. That sort of thing. Lyon does not have this luxury. In fact, there’s a chance – given the schedule ahead – that Thursday may have been his last start for the Flyers.

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Veteran Brian Elliott is expected to receive the call on Saturday against Los Angeles and possibly again on Tuesday against Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. After that, the Flyers are on leave for nine days. Carter Hart (groin) is expected to be back by then, which would send 27-year-old Lyon to Lehigh Valley in the AHL.

“Being in the NHL is so great,” said Lyon, who was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2016. “I’ve worked my whole life to get here. Just being up for those two days was a pleasure. I just want to keep doing my best.

Thursday’s game marked Lyon’s first NHL start in over a year and only their ninth since making their NHL debut three seasons ago. He is a free agent at the end of the season.

“The nature of the business is that you want to play well, make more money and do better,” said Lyon, who has a modest cap of $ 750,000. “This is the raison d’être of professional sport. The one thing I’m focusing a lot on this year is staying healthy and enjoying it. “

Lyon’s most defining professional moment was 94 saves for the Phantoms in a 2018 playoff game that lasted five overtime.

Flyers coach Alain Vigneault noted Thursday that Lyon had a strong season at Lehigh Valley (2.56 GAA,, 916 save percentage), which included a 37-save shutout against Laval in their most recent outing last Saturday. .

“He deserves a chance to play,” said the coach. Lyon went on to stop 36 of the Canadiens’ shots, but the Flyers only got one against Carey Price of Montreal in the 4-1 loss.

Since he doesn’t know when his next NHL game will be, Lyon’s plan is to stay prepared and avoid Ben & Jerry’s.

“I am proud to work hard,” he said, “but there is a difference between working hard and doing everything in your power to do things the right way.”

Example?

“It’s Friday night,” he continued, “and you have a glass of wine. You can either eat the entire pint of ice cream or have a small portion of it. You can either feel good about yourself the next day. Or you can put yourself in an eating coma for the rest of the weekend. It sounds silly and simple, but I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life. I feel very comfortable. I’m just trying to enjoy it and eat good meals here in the NHL.